Latest news with #Colom
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pinkins leaving MS Democratic Party, running as independent. What to know
Ty Pinkins, a Democrat who in recent years has run several political campaigns for both federal and statewide offices, has announced he is leaving his party and is now running as an independent for U.S. Senate in 2026. Pinkins told the Clarion Ledger on Monday his decision stemmed from disagreements with campaign finance raising between the Democratic Party and himself. "I refuse to operate in a system that prioritizes money over people," Pinkins said. "I was asked more about fundraising than about any values or anything about my vision as United States senator coming from Mississippi than anything else. It was all about money. I don't think that's leadership, it's gatekeeping, and that's why I'm running as an independent now, to stay accountable to the people and not the party." Pinkins also made note of being pushed to drop out of the race for another candidate, which he refused to do. "When I first entered this race, party officials didn't ask me about healthcare, veterans or education," he said. "They asked how much money I had. And when I refused to step aside for their handpicked, millionaire-backed candidate, they tried to buy me off — and then they threatened me." Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor did not respond to requests for comment by press time. Pinkins said he did not give the Democratic Party a prior warning to the announcement. In May, the Clarion Ledger reported Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom would likely run for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde Smith. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, according to previous Clarion Ledger reporting, thinks Colom is the right man for the job. If Colom follows through, Pinkins would now avoid a primary with a well-respected candidate in the Democratic Party. Pinkins said that fact was not part of his decision to run as an independent in the Senate race. "I think that there's a problem with money in our politics, and I think both parties are compromised with the amount of money that's in politics, and the only way that we can get out of it is for independent candidates to step forward and tell them, 'I don't accept big corporate PAC money,'" Pinkins said. "'I don't accept money for billionaires,' so that voters can see that they have a candidate that's not lost in the big money machine." The 2026 senate race will be Pinkins' third campaign in under three years. In 2023, Pinkins had begun his first Senate campaign against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, but at the Democratic Party's request, he changed gears and ran for Mississippi Secretary of State. He lost to incumbent and current office holder Michael Watson. In 2024, Pinkins picked back up the Senate campaign against Wicker but was unsuccessful in the November election. Because Pinkins is now an independent candidate, he will need 1,000 Mississippians' signatures to qualify for the race and also $1,000. Both will be needed to put his name on the state's ballot in 2026. Pinkins is also now the second high-ranking Democrat to leave the Mississippi Democratic Party. Shuwaski Young, a politician and former candidate for secretary of state from Philadelphia (Mississippi) left the party in October 2024. Pinkins would at this time be the only independent running for Mississippi's U.S. Senate seat in 2026, which also would leave Colom without a Democratic opponent in the 2026 primary. Hyde-Smith, who was first appointed to the U.S. Senate by former Gov. Phil Bryant, does at this time have one challenger in her party, Sarah Adlakha, a resident of Ocean Springs. Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@ or 972-571-2335. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ty Pinkins leaving Mississippi Democratic Party
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State prosecutor blocked by Hyde-Smith for judgeship may challenge her in 2026 Senate Race
Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom may challenge Cindy Hyde Smith for U.S. Senate in 2026. Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor said Colom recently told him that he intends to run, and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in an interview with the New York Times, said he wants Colom to run. Several other sources, including high-ranking Democrats and those close to Colom said he is heavily considering a run against Smith. If he does, Colom would be joined in the primary by Democrat Ty Pinkins, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate last year against Republican incumbent Senator Roger Wicker. Pinkins announced his intention to run in 2026 earlier this year. "(Colom is) a very experienced attorney, very experienced DA, and I think the caveat that separates the two is the ability to raise money," Taylor said. Several of Colom's party colleagues and at least one GOP political strategist have concerns over his name recognition and chance of beating a two-time winning incumbent. In 2020, Smith beat Mike Espy, a well-known Mississippi Democrat and former congressman who raised millions on the campaign trail. Philip Gunn running for governor? Is former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn running for governor in 2027? 'It makes it extremely difficult for someone who has virtually no statewide name ID to run against an incumbent U.S. senator in Mississippi," said Austin Barbour, a political strategist and lobbyist. Colom did not respond to a request for comment on Schumer's endorsement or for this story. Colom was elected to be the district attorney for Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties in 2015, becoming the district's first Black prosecutor. In 2023, he beat Republican challenger Jase Dalrymple with more than 55% of the total votes. Taylor and Mississippi House Minority Leader Robert Johnson both said Colom is a middle-of-the-road Democrat, with moderate views, family values and has a public service-oriented career to fall back on. That would also, in some areas, be the case for Pinkins, who was a career military man and attorney in the Delta for years before running for both statewide and federal office. Johnson said Colom would stand out from Pinkins because of his roughly 10 years in public office. However, both Johnson and Taylor acknowledged it would be difficult to build campaign funds, but they are confident Colom is up for it. "I think Brandon Presley proved (we can receive large campaign donations) when running against an incumbent in 2023," Johnson said. "That was the beginning of a movement, and I think that the framework has been put out there, but I think that's the only thing that we're still lacking, are resources (for upcoming races)." Earlier this week, The New York Times published an article revealing the national Democratic Party's intent to tackle several Southern states with strong candidates and a wallet full of campaign cash. Taylor confirmed Mississippi is part of the play, and he is talking with national Democrats on investment figures and projects. In elections past, the party has received millions from Democratic supporters. "National donors are willing to actually look at the South as a whole in a way like never before, especially the state of Mississippi," Taylor said. "We're being coined the new Georgia." Taylor and Johnson said they also hope to absorb disgruntled Mississippi conservatives unhappy with President Donald Trump's policies. '(Trump's) approval rating is taking an all-time low, and if (his endorsement and support) is what (Smith is) relying on, that may adhere to the benefit of Scott Colom by the time of this election," Johnson said. Barbour said while Democrats in some states might capitalize on shifting political allegiances, it wouldn't happen as quickly as state Democrats need to overcome serious challenges in a 2026 Senate race. State redistricting case decision: Judge panel approves new redistricting plan in Desoto County. See election schedule 'I think his popularity in Mississippi is going to be slower to diminish than it is in other states, and that's obviously a benefit for Cindy," Barbour said. Barbour said Smith has already curried favor with both the state electorate and the president. Trump earlier this year endorsed Smith. If Colom were to defeat Pinkins in a primary race, his complicated history with Smith could be rehashed on the campaign trail. In 2022, former Democratic President Joe Biden appointed Colom to serve on an unfilled federal judge seat in Mississippi, but Smith blocked it. Smith did that by not submitting a blue slip, which serves as a form of approval to a president's appointee. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee typically does not hold confirmation hearings if home state senators do not both give the nod via a blue slip. At the time, Smith said she did not approve of progressive groups, such as those led by George Soros, that donated to his campaign when he first ran for district attorney. She also said she was concerned about his opposition to 'legislation to protect female athletes,' according to the Associated Press. In a letter written to Smith later that year, Colom refuted her claims and said he was unaware of where the 'progressive' money came from. Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@ or 972-571-2335. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Scott Colom pursued by state, national Democrats to run for US Senate
